Facility and method for distributing liquefied hydrogen

Abstract

A facility for distributing liquefied hydrogen comprising a source of gaseous hydrogen, a liquefier, at least one means for storing liquid hydrogen, the liquefier comprising an outlet connected to an inlet of the storage means via a liquid circuit the facility comprising a liquid filling circuit provided with a first end connected to the storage means and a second end intended to be removably connected to a first end of a mobile liquid tank 6 ) to be filled, the facility further comprising a gas recovery circuit provided with a first end intended to be removably connected to a second end of the tank and a second end connected to a receiving member of the facility, the gas recovery circuit comprising a pressure and/or flow-rate regulating member, such as a valve for lowering the pressure in the mobile liquid tank to a determined filling pressure, the facility comprising an electronic control member comprising a microprocessor configured to receive at least one filling request signal from a mobile liquid tank, the pressure and/or flow-rate regulating member being adjustable and the electronic control member being configured to actuate the latter to regulate the pressure level in a mobile liquid tank to a determined filling pressure based on a received filling request signal.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A facility for distributing liquefied hydrogen comprising:
 a source of gaseous hydrogen;   at least one liquid hydrogen storage reservoir;   a liquefier, comprising an inlet connected to the source and an outlet connected to an inlet of the storage reservoir via a liquid circuit for storing therein liquefied hydrogen produced by the liquefier;   a liquid filling circuit provided with a first end connected to the storage reservoir and a second end configured to be removably connected to a first end of a mobile liquid tank to be filled such as a semi-trailer;   a gas recovery circuit provided with a first end configured to be removably connected to a second end of said mobile liquid tank and a second end connected to a receiving member of the facility, the gas recovery circuit comprising a pressure and/or flow rate regulation member that is configured to lower the pressure in the mobile liquid tank to a predetermined filling pressure; and   an electronic control unit comprising a microprocessor configured to control all or part of the facility, the electronic control unit being configured to receive at least one signal requesting filling of a mobile liquid tank,   wherein the pressure and/or flow rate regulation member is adjustable, and   wherein the electronic control unit is configured to control the pressure and/or flow rate regulation member to regulate the pressure level in a mobile liquid tank to a predetermined filling pressure as a function of a filling request signal received.   
     
     
         18 . The facility as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the gas recovery circuit comprises a compression member arranged between the pressure and/or flow rate regulation member and the second end connected to the liquefier, the compression member being configured to compress the flow of gas coming from the first end to a predetermined pressure with a view to reinjecting same into the liquefier circuit. 
     
     
         19 . The facility as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined filling pressure is selected between a predetermined minimum pressure and a predetermined maximum pressure. 
     
     
         20 . The facility as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined minimum pressure is equal to 1.05 bar. 
     
     
         21 . The facility as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein in that the compression member is configured to operate with a minimum intake pressure at the inlet of said compression member, the predetermined minimum pressure being equal to the minimum intake pressure of the compression member increased by a predetermined value corresponding at least to the pressure loss in the gas recovery circuit between the first end and the inlet of said compression member. 
     
     
         22 . The facility as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein in that the predetermined maximum pressure is equal to the value of the pressure within the storage reservoir reduced where appropriate by the value of the pressure loss between the storage reservoir and the second end of the liquid filling circuit. 
     
     
         23 . The facility as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to receive at least one signal requesting filling of a mobile liquid tank comprising at least one of the following filling parameters: maximum pressure level allowed in the tank, fluid pressure level required at the reception point(s) to which the tank must deliver liquefied hydrogen after filling, quantity of liquefied hydrogen to be filled in the tank, distance that the tank must travel after filling to in turn deliver liquefied hydrogen to the reception point(s), number of reception points to which the tank must deliver liquefied hydrogen after filling, the temperature in the storage reservoir, the volume of the tank: and in that the electronic control unit is configured to calculate the predetermined filling pressure level as a function of said parameter(s). 
     
     
         24 . The facility as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the liquefier is of the type with controlled variable cooling power, that is to say making it possible to vary the temperature of the liquid hydrogen produced and in particular to produce liquid hydrogen that is sub-cooled relative to its saturated state, and in that the electronic control unit is configured to control the temperature level of the liquid hydrogen produced in the storage reservoir as a function of the request signal received. 
     
     
         25 . The facility as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the liquid filling circuit comprises two withdrawal pipes connected at two different heights of the storage reservoir to draw off hydrogen therefrom under different respective thermodynamic conditions. 
     
     
         26 . The facility as claimed in  claim 24 , further comprising separate storage reservoirs filled at different liquid hydrogen temperatures, the first end of the liquid filling circuit being connected to the storage reservoirs, the liquid filling circuit comprising a set of valve(s) configured to allow filling of a tank with a mixture of liquid coming from the storage reservoirs to obtain a predetermined liquid temperature. 
     
     
         27 . A method for distributing liquefied hydrogen using a facility as claimed in  claim 17 , the method comprising the steps of:
 generating a signal requesting filling of a mobile liquid tank;   calculating a predetermined filling pressure level as a function of said signal; and   filling the tank with liquid hydrogen at the predetermined filling pressure level.   
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the predetermined filling pressure level is regulated during the filling step by controlling the opening of the pressure and/or flow rate regulation member. 
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the control of the opening of the pressure and/or flow rate regulation member is carried out upon a tank degassing operation during and/or before and/or following a transfer of liquid hydrogen into the tank. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the step of generating a filling request signal is carried out manually and/or by telemetry, said signal being transmitted to the facility. 
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 27 , further comprising, prior to a transfer of liquid hydrogen into the tank from the storage reservoir, a step of calculating a predetermined temperature value of liquefied hydrogen produced in the storage reservoir as a function of said signal and a step of filling the storage reservoir with liquefied hydrogen at said predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         32 . The method as claimed in  claim 27 , further comprising, prior to a transfer of liquid hydrogen into the tank from the storage reservoir, a step of filling two separate storage reservoirs with liquefied hydrogen at different temperatures and a step of calculating a predetermined liquefied hydrogen temperature value as a function of said signal and a step of filling a tank at said predetermined temperature via a mixture of liquefied hydrogen coming from said storage reservoirs.